SEATTLE - With Nick Blackburn seemingly out of answers for how to end his season-long struggles, the Twins are weighing options such as sending him back to Class AAA Rochester, having him skip a start or moving him to the bullpen.

Blackburn is winless since June 22, and Friday's 5-3 loss to the offensively challenged Mariners dropped him to 4-9 with a 7.39 ERA.

"We're going to try to figure out what the right thing is to try and get this guy back on track," said Rob Antony, Twins assistant general manager, on Saturday. "He had some concerning statements. 'I'm not sure what to do' -- when big-leaguers have thoughts like that, then you know their confidence is struggling."

After Friday's game, Blackburn said, "It's tough to have any confidence. I'm still fighting to turn it around, but I don't know what changes to make at this point."

Pitching coach Rick Anderson missed Friday and Saturday's games to tend to a personal matter, but he's scheduled to return Sunday.

It took 23 years but the 3M Championship has its first back-to-back winner.
After a red-hot putter allowed him to enter Sunday with a four-shot lead, Kenny Perry continued his momentum into Sunday’s final round at TPC Twin Cities. Perry shot 4-under 68 to win by four over Kevin Sutherland, Scott Dunlap and two-time 3M Championship winner Bernhard Langer.

Troy Merritt, a graduate of Spring Lake Park High School, walked to the final tee with a three-shot lead and slapped hands with fans on both sides of the ropes, knowing he had all but wrapped up his first PGA Tour title.

The Minnesota Twins had one hit through eight innings. But Brian Dozier said his teammates were swinging well and that they need to be a little more convincing at the plate if they want to hold onto the American League's second wild-card spot.